Ryan
Fitzpatrick was the AFC offensive player of the week. This follows Brandon
Marshall winning the same honor the week before. Wow! What a difference a year
makes! We finished 4-12 last year and the coach and general manager situation
was in turmoil. We were watching Geno Smith struggle each and every week
(except the last game of the season) with an offense that was awful. Now our
offense has been clicking on all cylinders (except tight end) and the Jets are
in the top 10 in the league.
The Jets are a
better team than the Cowboys. The offensive line of Dallas is real good but if
they try to generate a running game, this falls into the strength of the Jets.
Matt Cassel is not the same player who played against the Jets on a Thursday night for the Patriots a number of years ago. That night he was 30-51 passing for 400 yards and 3 TDs losing to the Jets in OT. He cannot make the throws he
used to make. He plays like he is worn down and is just playing out the
schedule. In fact, the whole Dallas team looks beaten up. As long as the Jets
don’t commit multiple turnovers and their “special teams” don’t give up a “home
run” the Jets should win. May the force be with us!
It’s in the mail….some e-mails I received lately…..
Marty, how is it you keep contradicting yourself on the play
of Nick Mangold. First he was too old and slow. Then, when he was out, you said
the Jets missed him badly. You can’t have it both ways talking from two sides
of your mouth. Which is it?
Stu from Reading PA.
Hi Stu!
I least I know there is someone reading my articles. You
are correct with my flip-flopping. There were a few games when Mangold just
looked like he was getting pushed back at the point of attack. Then when he was
out, our offensive line was awful. When he came back, he and the rest of the
line really picked it up. I’m only going by what my eyes see. But now I’m convinced that Nick Mangold is the cog that moves our offense and he
looks like he can give us another solid two years. By the way, I have been
known to talk out of three sides of my mouth. Ask any of my friends who have
eaten with me at the Cheesecake Factory.
Marty, I enjoy reading your take on the Jets each week and
in fact save your articles. You were right on the money early in the season
when you said that:
“I
am predicting the Jets will go 10-6 this year.”
You also said Marshall will be a beast and Fitzpatrick will
surprise people. Great insight for the season. If they make the playoffs, how
do you think they will do?
Richard
from White Plains, NY
Hi Richard!
Thanks for the compliments! As far as the playoffs go, if
we make it, the Jets are peaking at the right time. Two of the three phases of
the game (offense and defense) are looking better and better. Even our special
teams looked better last week with different (and quicker) personnel playing. I
don’t want to get ahead of myself but if the Jets make the playoffs, I really
believe they can make some noise.
Marty, what would you do with the quarterback situation if
you were GM?
Sue-Ellen from Bayside,NY
Hi Sue-Ellen!
I would let Geno Smith go. I don’t even think we can get
a 7th round pick for him. I’d try to sign Fitzpatrick for two years,
maybe three. This will be tough to do. He’s 33 and will want a big contract.
I’d keep Bryce Petty as our back-up and
draft another QB or sign a free agent.
PS You were great in Dallas!
What the Jet scribes are saying:
Rich Cimini, ESPN
“Ryan
Fitzpatrick has gone 123 consecutive passes without an interception, nine
attempts shy of the longest streak of his career (2013). Now he will face the
most benign defense in the league. The Cowboys have only eight takeaways,
including six interceptions -- none of them by a cornerback. In fact, they've
gone 536 passes without an interception by a corner. As if they didn't have
enough problems, the Cowboys might not have starter Morris Claiborne
(hamstring). In theory, Fitzpatrick should have his way. He needs five
touchdown passes to break Vinny Testaverde's team record, 29 in 1998.”
Brian Costello, NY Post
“If the Jets win Saturday night, they will be able to watch
the competition Sunday to see where they stand. The Steelers face the Broncos
while the Chiefs play the Ravens. Bowles won’t be staring at his TV, though.”…….”
The Jets are trying to win four games in a row for the first time since Nov.
2010. If the Jets win out, that would be a six-game winning streak, something
they have not done during one season since 1998.”
Manesh Mehta, NY Daily News
“Ryan Fitzpatrick’s career revival has spread yuletide cheer
and positioned the Jets to make a serious run to the postseason. He has
stabilized a historically unstable position and given the new regime time to
answer the most maddening question of all: How do we find a franchise
quarterback? Patience is a four-letter word in a business where job security is
a myth. Turnover is rampant. Golden parachutes don’t exist. Fitzpatrick, on
pace to set a franchise record for touchdown passes this season, has been the
elixir. Todd Bowles’ admission to the Daily News last week that he “definitely”
wants to re-sign Fitzpatrick for 2016 was the latest evidence of his impact.
The Jets should give the 33-year-old a multi-year contract extension for three
very important reasons:
1) He’s injected a winning mindset by playing better than at
any time in his 11-year career.
2) There are plenty of quarterback-needy teams currently
slotted ahead of the Jets in the 2016 draft.
3) He can buy more time for Bryce Petty to
develop
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